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• 1. Introduction
• 2. The Electrical Safety Act 2002
• 3. The Electrical Safety Regulation 2002
• 4. Risk management
• 5. Operating cranes and plant near overhead electric lines
  • 5.1 Scope
  • 5.2 Regulation requirement on exclusion zone for electric lines
  • 5.3 Exclusion zone
  • 5.4 Risk management process for a crane working near electric lines
  • 5.5 Working in the safety observer zone
• 6. Work near low voltage overhead electric lines
  • 6.1 Scope
  • 6.2 The no-touch and exclusion zones
  • 6.3 Hazard identification
  • 6.4 Risk assessment
  • 6.5 Examining the low voltage overhead line for visual defects
  • 6.6 Deciding on control measures
• 7. Clearing vegetation near overhead electric lines
• 8. Agricultural work near overhead electric lines
  • 8.1 Scope
  • 8.2 Regulation on exclusion zones
  • 8.3 Hazard identification
  • 8.4 Risk assessment
  • 8.5 Deciding on control measures
  • 8.6 Particular circumstances
• 9. Transportation of high loads near electric lines
  • 9.1 Scope
  • 9.2 Meaning of terms
  • 9.3 What is a high load?
  • 9.4 Legislative requirements
  • 9.5 Travel requirements
  • 9.6 Responsibilities
• 10. Repair of electrical equipment
• 11. Work near electrical hazards in buildings and near underground electrical cables
• Appendix A - Meaning of terms used in this code
• Appendix B - Exclusion zones in millimetres

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6.5 Examining the low voltage overhead line for visual defects

An insulated low voltage overhead electric line should be examined for visual defects. The line is generally divided into two portions:

1. The overhead, aerial line portion of the overhead line up to, but not including, the point of connection to the fixed wiring of the structure to which the overhead line connects.
2. The means of connection eg mains connection box or line clamps insulated with tape or heat-shrink or other means, and where applicable, the fixed wiring tails of the circuit to which the line is connected.

The following assessment procedure should be adopted to ensure that an overhead line has no defects as assessed visually. If the line is part of a customer’s installation, a licensed electrical worker should assess the line. If the line is the property of an electricity entity, either an electrical contractor or the entity should be engaged to assess the line.

The line is visually checked to ensure that:

• the insulation is intact, with no tears, cracks or other physical defects and there are no exposed live parts along the line; and
• the clearance of the line from the ground is not less than as prescribed in the Regulation.
• There are no exposed live electrical parts anywhere on the line.

Last updated July 16, 2009

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